Wisconsin Democrats remained on edge Tuesday as the results from a Tuesday recall election were too close to call.
The Senate District 8 race between Alberta Darling and Representative Sandy Pasch remains too close to call late Tuesday. Ms. Darling leads Ms. Pasch 53 to 47 percent with 82 percent of precincts reporting.
At least three Republican lawmakers survived the Democratic recall effort. The three were Sen. Robert Cowles, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf and Sen. Luther Olsen. In a fourth race, the Democratic challenger held a comfortable lead with most ballots counted and appeared to have ousted a Republican who narrowly won in 2010.
Mr. Olsen has 53 percent of the vote compared to 47 percent of the vote for state Rep. Fred Clark with 98 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.
Mr. Cowles captured 58 percent of the vote compared with 42 percent for Democrat Nancy Nusbaum with 81 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.
“When this recall process was first triggered, I said that I stand by my record. Today was a victory for the taxpayers of Northeast Wisconsin. I pledge to continue my work controlling spending, cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in government, and creating an environment to grow and retain good-paying jobs.” Mr. Cowles said in a statement.
The recall election comes just months after Wisconsin governor Scott Walker signed a controversial collective bargaining bill into law, prompting opponents to launch a petition recalling Republicans member of the legislature. The race, which drew millions of dollars in contributions from outside groups, is largely seen as the first test for Republicans and Democrats in 2012.
Wisconsin Democrats said they would commit unprecedented resources to the election, noting the need to send a message to state Republicans.
“In size and scope and consequence, the recall movement will represent a historic correction to Republican overreach,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Mike Tate said in a memo to reporters.
Spending on the recall campaigns was set to triple the combined cost of all 115 state legislative races in 2010. Total costs may approach $40 million, including $5 million raised by the candidates themselves. Spending on the nine elections had reached $33 million, most of it from outside special interest groups.
Next Tuesday there will be recall elections for two Democratic senators, one of whom barely won in 2008.
